Australian grunge-metal trio Silverchair will take to America's nightclubs later this month

and in March to promote the upcoming release of their third full-length album, Neon

Ballroom (March 16).

Beginning with a show at New York's Bowery Ballroom Feb. 16, the group will be on the

road in the United States through late March, performing at small and medium-sized

clubs in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit and winding up in Boston at the

Paradise Theater on March 23.

Neon Ballroom was produced by Nick Launay, known for his work with fellow

Aussie rockers Midnight Oil and American pop artists Semisonic. Among the songs on

the new album is a six-minute duet with classical pianist David Helfgott -- subject of the

Oscar-winning film "Shine" about his battles with mental illness -- on the song "Emotion

Sickness."

The full track listing for Neon Ballroom is: "Emotion Sickness," "Anthem for the

Year 2000," "Ana's Song (Open Fire)," "Spawn Again," "Miss You Love," "Dearest

Helpless," "Do You Feel the Same," "Black Tangled Heart," "Point of View," "Satin

Sheets," "Paint Pastel Princess" and "Steam Will Rise." The video for the first single,

"Anthem for the Year 2000," was directed by Gavin Bowden (Red Hot Chili Peppers,

Live).

The group, best known for hard-rocking songs such as

href="http://media.addict.com/atn-bin/get-music/Silverchair/Freak.ram">"Freak"

(RealAudio excerpt) from their 1997 album Freakshow, played a secret show in

their Australian hometown of Newcastle last month to preview the new material.

Playing under the fake name the Australian Silverchair Show, the trio -- augmented by

tour keyboardist Sam Holloway, formerly of the Melbourne-based band Cordrazine --

performed for the first time in more than a year.

The U.S. tour kick-off Feb. 16 includes a pre-show chat on SonicNet, which will also

cybercast the show.

Silverchair Tour Dates:

Feb. 16; New York, N.Y., Bowery Ballroom

Feb. 18; New Orleans, La., House of Blues

March 10; Atlanta, Ga., Roxy Theater

March 11; Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club

March 12; Philadelphia, Pa., Trocadero

March 15; Chicago, Ill., Vic Theater

March 16; Minneapolis, Minn., Quest Club

March 18; Cleveland, Ohio, Odeon

March 19; Detroit, Mich., St. Andrew's Hall

March 20; Toronto, Canada, Warehouse

March 22; Montreal, Canada, Le Spectrum

March 23; Boston, Mass., Paradise